Chapter 155 - Marie
April had used her mum's maiden name as she was sure Marie would make the connection. She was correct as she heard the voice turn warm.
"Jones? Little April, are you Katie's daughter?" Marie asked. She was surprised and happy to hear from her old friend's daughter.
"Katie? Do you mean Kathleen?" April enquired, she wasn't sure of her mother's nicknames.
"Yes, sorry I used to call her Katie for short. We were very good friends. Are you okay?" Marie asked, she didn't want to presume why April was ringing her.
April giggled, "Yes I am okay, I just wanted to talk to you about my mum."
"Of course. You must be doing well if you found your mothers letter and rang me, you are just as smart as she was." Marie said.
April smiled hearing that she was like her mother, she was never told that before. "Thanks. I found my mothers two letters and she left your contact details on one of them. I also moved into her condo."
"Oh the condo, I have such good memories with your mother in that place. It was our home away from home." Marie sounded warm and light hearted as she spoke about her memories.
April was glad her mum had such a good friend it reminded her of herself and Aarna. "You were good friends then?"
"The best. How's your dad?" Marie asked, her tone slightly changing.
"He married Rachel… But he is getting a divorce now." April didnt know how much she should say.
"Aghh, good good. He isn't such an idiot then. Sorry, that's your dad." Marie chuckled on the other end of the phone.
"It's okay, he was an idiot but I think he was just lost in grief and the tablets didn't help," April confessed.
"I tell you what, I have just finished my latest fashion project. How about I fly over and see you? That way we can chat more in depth." Marie offered, she had so much to say and not all of it should be said over the phone.
"That sounds great, you can stay in the condo and relive some memories if you like?" April offered, she looked forward to hearing more stories of her mother. Her father could tell her many stories but she never liked to ask him as she knew how her loss had affected him.
"Can I? Okay then I will let you go so I can book a flight," Marie said quickly, she was eager to see April. She had last seen April when she was just three years old.
"Okay, message me when you get here and I will come to pick you up."
"Okay see you soon April… and thank you for ringing me." Marie was very grateful to hear April's voice. She had no husband and no child of her own. She had thrown herself into her work for the past fifteen years and each time she finished a fashion show she would feel lonely so she would start another one. Now she hoped for family.
April then hung up the phone. She was very happy, she sipped her tea and stared out onto the lake. It was a peaceful moment.
"Cough cough."
April glanced to the left of her and saw Grandpa Joseph standing there with his hands behind his back. She smiled, "Come and sit with me grandpa, it's a beautiful day."
Joseph jumped at the offer and sat beside her, he set a box of chocolates on the table. She smiled at the chocolates and he added, "It's to go with your tea."
April was full after brunch but seeing the chocolates she smiled and opened the box and took one out. They sat for a minute before she heard a sigh.
She smiled, she was well aware of grandpa's tactics now but she played along and asked, "What's wrong grandpa?"
"It's just I will be so lonely when you leave I don't think my heart could take it. You know I am getting older." Grandpa Joseph started his plan to get April on his side.
"But we will come visit you, Grandpa, you won't be alone. You also have Bernie, Robert and Sam to keep you company." April held his arm as she explained. She waited for him to say whatever it was that he wanted to.
"Yes, I do have them." Joseph begrudged his three friends now. But he thought for a moment before he said, "On my walk this morning I just so happened to come across the old goat. I mean my lovely neighbour Mrs Sheridan."
"Oh, how is she?" April asked, she wasn't sure why he had disappeared so quickly from her news this morning. It was not normal for him to go for a walk that early in the day.
"She is good. She likes Robert a lot. She told me that she has decided to move." Joseph watched her expression, if he got April on his side he didn't have to worry what his grandson had to say. After all, the Davis men were fools only when it came to the women that they loved.
"Is she, that seems strange, hasn't she lived there all her life?" April asked. "Why would she move?"
"Well that I am not sure of, but I like to live a quiet life so I offered to buy her home and she agreed. Now it will need to be updated but when I purchase the house next door why dont you and Dean move into it. It is close by so we can all help with the baby and it's a very safe gated community." Joseph announced, he waited for her reply anxiously.
"You want me and Dean to move in next door?" She laughed before she continued. "What will you do next, take down the side gate and join the two houses into one large compound.." She joked but she noticed the sparkle in his eyes as she spoke. "You already thought of that didnt you?"
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